Published: September 10, 2025
※2016/2/22 Typo corrections made.
This is Satou. The medicine case, a key item in a certain famous period drama, was something I believed as a child to be exclusive to that show. I was quite surprised when I learned it was actually used as a seal holder at my grandfather’s house.
◇
“—Are you the hero?”
“Wow, Pochi is the hero, huh.”
On the night Pochi defeated a low-rank dragon and earned the title of hero, I called out Liza and Arisa to hold a guardians’ meeting.
I hesitated about inviting Hikaru, but since he said he would attend a banquet in the Royal Capital of the Shiga Kingdom, I decided to update him later.
“Master, does Pochi know about this?”
“No, I haven’t told him yet.”
I shook my head at Liza’s serious question.
“Ah, then it’s probably best to keep it a secret for a while. Pochi can be careless.”
“I agree with Arisa. I’m worried that earning the ‘hero’ title might make Pochi complacent.”
It seems both of them, like me, believe that telling Pochi about the “hero” title might do more harm than good.
In the end, we agreed to keep it a secret until Pochi grows a bit older and becomes more composed.
“By the way, Master, what kind of benefits come with the ‘hero’ title?”
“Hmm, I don’t really know.”
I shook my head at Arisa’s question.
“W-why not?”
“Even if I change the title, I just get a vague feeling like ‘my body feels a little lighter.’ That’s about it.”
I answered Arisa, who looked surprised.
In reality, even if there were changes in ability stats, it’s impossible to detect when everything is already maxed out.
We’ll likely notice any changes by observing Pochi’s combat.
“Hmm, then what do you think the requirements are? There are three cases now: me, Shin, and this time Pochi, so maybe you can figure it out?”
—Who knows?
I earned the title after defeating a high-rank demon, Shin defeated monsters of the Red Rope, and Pochi defeated a low-rank dragon.
The enemy strength varies: weaker, stronger, and equal respectively, with no commonality.
Shin and Pochi fought one-on-one, but when I earned the title, soldiers and mages of the army were also present.
At least, I don’t think I met the condition Zen mentioned that the hero title “lies beyond the brink of death.”
“I can’t think of any common factors…”
“I see.”
Arisa sighed disappointedly at my words.
I’ll ask Hikaru and Count Muno about the hero title another day.
◇
“Is the meat here yet?”
“It’s a biting frenzy with whole bites.”
On the second day of their meat fast, the two eyed four wyverns approaching from afar with hungry glances.
Since this country is in early summer, Tama and Pochi wore short-sleeved sailor uniforms.
Because Pochi had violated the forbidden act of challenging an equal-level enemy during a picnic in the Jade Domain, he was punished by being deprived of meat in his meals.
Tama wasn’t punished for any wrongdoing but shared the penalty because “she couldn’t stop her little brother Pochi.”
By the way, this is the first time I learned Tama was Pochi’s elder sister figure.
They don’t know this, but nearly killing a low-rank dragon, which is a protected species, is not part of the punishment.
“Those wyverns are off-limits to hunt.”
“Off-limits?”
“Look carefully.”
Our airship flying into the airspace of the Silga Kingdom, also called the Kingdom of Flying Dragons from the Eastern countries, was greeted by the kingdom’s main force: the Wyvern Riders.
I guided Pochi’s curious gaze and pointed out the riders on the backs of the wyverns.
“They’re like Pochi and Ryuryu.”
Pochi probably related them to Ryuryu, the low-rank dragon who recently became his mount.
Pochi’s gaze at the Wyvern Riders suddenly shifted to one of camaraderie.
The riders appeared to be from the Red Scale Tribe, with red scales on their necks and hand tips, and tails like lizardmen. This country seems to be dominated by scale tribes like the Red Scale Tribe and the lizardmen.
Zena and Liza appeared from downstairs, and Liza took Tama and Pochi back into the ship.